Seasonal changes and distribution of seagrass along the coasts and some Islands in Sattahip District, Thailand

Abstract

A study of the variety and distribution of seagrass was conducted in 14 surveying areas during part of of year from March 2007 to February 2008 along the coasts and some islands in Sattahip district and adjacent areas including Bang Sare and Ban Chang district, Chonburi province. This study was performed by considering 3 major different seasons representing the season of before S/W monsoon, during S/W monsoon and after N/E monsoon, by surveying and collecting information in March 2007, July 2007 and February 2008, respectively. The results revealed that a total of 7 species in 4 genera 2 families of seagrass had been found from the intertidal zone to 16.7 meters in depth in which Halophila decipiens Ostenfeld (Hd) was the deepest habitat seagrass species. The variety, distribution and percentage coverage of seagrass had been changed by seasonal variation especially after the S/W monsoon period presenting the largest size of seagrass, high density and wide spread of seagrass.